Gate-latch.



No. 635,363. Pat entail Oct. 24, I899;

w. TRIPP.

GATE LATCH.

(Application filed Jan. 4, 1899.)

("0 Mod NI'TED STATES Fries.

PATENT GATE= LA'TC H.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 635,363, dated October24, 1899.

Applicationfiled January 4, 1899.

To all whont it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD I. TRIPP, a citizen of the United States,residing at Deming, in the county of Grant and Territory of New Mexico,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gate-Latches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention is an improved construction of gate-latch, the objectbeing to provide an exceedingly cheap, simple, and eificientconstruction of gate-latch which will automatically operate to securethe gate when closed and can be opened from either side byhand.

Another object of the inventionis to utilize a ring as a fasteningmeans, so that the looking of the gate is greatly facilitated.

With these objects in view my invention consists, essentially, ofpivoting a ring within a suitable bracket, pivoting an operatingleverupon the side of said bracket, and having handles upon opposite sides ofthe gate, a portion of said lever being passed through the ring, thegate being provided with a rigid latch-bar adapted to engage the ringand elevate the same as the gate closes, the said ring dropping back byits own weight in advance of the latch-bar, thereby securely looking thegate.

The invention consists also in certain details of construction andnovelties of combination, all of which will be fully describedhereinafter, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a viewshowing the practical application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the gate-latch, the latchbar being shown in elevation. Fig.3 is a top plan View of the gate-latch, the post and palings being shownin section. Fig. 4 is asectional View on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

In carrying out my invention I employ a latch-bar A, which is rigidlysecured to the gate and projects slightly beyond the end of the gate soas to strike against the post B. A bracket 0 is secured to said post,said bracket comprising the essentially U-shaped portion 0, the shoulder0 which is secured to the outer face of the post, and the projecting arm0 which is fastened to the inner face of the post, as most clearly shownin Serial No. 701,143. (No model.)

Figs. 2 and 3. A metal ring D is arranged within the U-shaped portion ofthe bracket and is held in place by means of a rivet pin or bar E,arranged forward of the central portion of the U-shaped portion C. Alever F is pivoted to the arm C at the point F, and just to the rear ofsaid pivot the lever has an offset or shoulder F and upon the endadjacent to said offset is arranged a thumb or handle portion F Theportion of the lever in advance of the pivot rests parallel with thebracket-arm to a point opposite the notch 0 said lever being bent atright angles at this point, passing through the ring and resting in thenotch and provided with a handle portion F. The corner of the postcontained within the bracket is cut away or curved out, as shown at G,the purpose being to permit the ring to pass therein as the latch-barcomes in contact with the forward side of said ring as the gate closes,said ring swinging around upon the pin E until the bar A slipsthereunder, when the ring will drop back to its normal position and restupon the angular portion or lifting-arm F of the lever, as most clearlyshown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. In this manner the gate is automaticallyclosed, the ring being easily lifted by the rigid latch b'ar, andwhenever it is desired to open the gate the latch-bar can be released byeither lifting the end F or pressing down upon the end F either portionserving to lift the arm F carrying with it the ring D, which clears thelatch-bar A, and the gatecan then be swung open.

The bracket is constructed in an exceedingly cheap and durable manner,and by having the corner-post recessed or cut out I am enabled to use amuch shorter bracket-arm, thereby providing a much neater constructionof gate-latch. This latch can also be used for other doors or for otherpurposes.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

In a gate-latch, the combination with the bracket, of the post to whichsaid bracket is attached, the corner of said post embraced by saidbracket, having a recessed or cut-out portion, a ring pivotallysuspended within the ICO bracket, a lever pivoted to the side of the andadapted to operate upon said ring, subbracket and having a lifting-arm Fpassing stantially as shown and described. through the ring and adaptedto rest in a notched portion of the bracket, a handle ar- TILLARD TRIPP5 ranged upon each end of the lever, the inner Witnesses:

end of said lever having an offset or shoul- A. J. CLARK, der F and thelatch-bar secured to the gate, A. J. PICKARTS.

